Closer to Truth 2017

Details of the 2017 Closer to Truth Series

Is There Life After Death?
The idea of surviving our own physical demise has long obsessed us. But is there any way that our personal awareness could actually transcend physical decay? In part one we ask: Is There Life After Death? Given that there are so many theories on how the afterlife might be possible, can we know if it is real? In part two we ask: What Would Eternal Life Be Like?

Will the Universe Ever End?
It’s hard to imagine that everything we see and know – the entire, vast, incomprehensibly large universe – might one day cease to exist. In part one, we ask: Will the Universe Ever End? A new theory claims to prove our universe will end, in its own special way. In part two we ask: What is The Doomsday Argument?

How Many Universes Exist?
Could it be that our Universe is not the only one? In fact, many scientists believe it is not. In part one, we ask: How Many Universes Exist? If we assume that there are multiple universes that really exist, it could change how we see science, humanity, even God. In part two, we ask: What Would Multiple Universes Mean?

What Would an Infinite Cosmos Mean?
We know that our Universe is unfathomably large, but could it be literally infinite in size? In part one, we ask: What Would an Infinite Cosmos Mean? It seems more and more likely that our Universe is not the only one – and that perhaps there are an unlimited number of other Universes. In part two, we ask: Must Mulitple Universes Exist?

Is Free Will an Illusion?
We all feel like free agents on the inside: in control of our behavior, our decisions, our lives. But does that feeling reflect reality? In part one, we ask: Is Free Will an Illusion? Whether humans have free will is a question that has perplexed scientists and philosophers for ages. Why? In part two of today’s program, we ask: Why Obsess about Free Will?

How are Brains Structured?
The Brain is an unfathomably complex organ, and science continually reveals more fascinating information about it. In part one, we ask: How Are Brains Structured? Then we want to know how does the brain function? In part two, we ask: How Do Human Brains Think and Feel?

Can Mind Heal the Body?
It’s common to think of Brain and Mind as two separate things that can influence each other. But is that right? And how far can such influence go? In part one, we ask: Can Mind Heal the Body? One way to learn about the relationship between Brain and Mind is to examine cases of injury, trauma, and addiction. In part two, we ask: What Happens When Brains Go Bad?

Can ESP Reveal a New Reality?
Extra-sensory perception seems like the stuff of fantasy, but should the possibility be taken seriously? In part one we ask, Can ESP Reveal a New Reality? To claim that ESP exists, one must explain at least possible mechanisms behind it. In part two, we ask: How Could ESP Work?

How Did the Universe Begin?
How did the Universe start? And where is it going? The answers may help us assess whether the Cosmos has meaning and purpose. In part one, we ask: How Did the Universe Begin? As science continues to progress, how far will it go in answering foundational questions? And where will it take us? In part two, we explore Science and the Future of Humanity.

What Exists?
Quantum Mechanics seems to be at the bedrock of reality, but it’s tricky to study – because observing things in the quantum world affects them. In part one, we ask: Why is Observation in Quantum Mechanics Such a Mystery? But there are even deeper questions about the nature of reality, what our world really is. In part two , we ask: What Exists?